| When trying to unlock these questions we have to realize that we are dealing with a muskies STRONGEST instinctive beahvior ( Strike feeding behavior ). If a muskie can be conditioned, certianly this is the last behavior that can be changed or dampend to stimuli.
I do not think that a muskie is going to be conditioned to "water displacement" (lateral line stimuli). And lure "color/flash" (sight stimuli)isnt a factor because a muskie doesnt "decide" to hit one color rather that the next, it is the muskies ability to see the bait that makes one color better than the next. Maybe, just maybe, sound and/or smell and/or taste can be a conditioning factor BUT!, those are secondary feeding senses anyway so does it really matter?? (maybe rattles/scentpads hurt more than they help??)lol....
If a muskies primary feeding behaviors can be conditioned they will FEED LESS, IF AT ALL, if they are dampend to lateral/sight stimuli, right? Do you think that a muskie has the ability to differenciate between different lateral line/sight stimuli?? And if yes, can they attach meaning and reason that one signature/color/flash is different than the next???? NO WAY! I am not buying that.
On the other hand...Maybe that is why studies show that a muskie, or any fish for that matter, will die after being caught and released multiple times?????....
I love this subject! It is so crystal clear!
MUSKIE ILLINI
"Pepe...Go for the face!"
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| In a nutshell,IMHO, it is not possible to 'condition' a muskie at all in the sport fishing context. See Brian's post as to a definition, and then look at the numerical possibilities. Not going to happen. I know some want to argue this point, but literally, it plain CAN'T happen, there is not enough exposure. Conditioning takes MULTIPLE exposures to the same event, and needs to be constant in the positive/negative reinforcement.
Is it possible to lessen the response to a stimulous by making that stimulous commonplace? In theory, yes. Is it possible to dampen the response to a stimulous entirely? I don't think so, and there is nothing in the literature to support the idea that I can find.
Anyone have a source that will support the idea? I would like to read about it, if there is anything out there. |
